Teenage female cricketer found dead in Multan, relatives blame PCB for 'suicide'

FILE PHOTO: Haleema Rafique (Image courtesy DAWN)

An alleged case of suicide of a teenage Pakistani female cricketer has put questions over Pakistan Cricket Board’s handling of a sexual harrassment case last year.

Haleema Rafique, a 17-year-old Pakistani female cricketer, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in her hometown Multan. Her father Muhammad Rafique on Tuesday held the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accountable for his daughter’s death and claimed that she committed suicide, DAWN reported.

Last year in June, Haleema, along with four other girls had accused the Multan Cricket Club of sexual harrassment during a training camp.

PCB’s women’s wing constituted a two-member enquiry committee to look into the matter, which dismissed all the charges against the club’s management after a two-day hearing.

During the course of the hearing, only 3 of the 5 girls who had accused the management, appeared before the committee and denied any harrassment. However, two girls, including Haleema, remained absent during the hearing. The committee then banned the five cricketers for six months, starting October 23, 2013.

"The board didn't listen to her pleadings against some MCC officials, who sexually harassed female cricketers, and she grew depressed, especially after one of the accused, Maulvi Sultan Alam filed damages for Rs 20 million against her," Rafique told media personnels on Tuesday.

Found dead in her room, Haleema was said to be a talented player from Multan.

Her relatives said that she drank acid during her fast, leading to her death.